Leaving body image struggles as mom unaddressed and unattended to can interfere with your everyday life. It has made me not want to go places or be seen. I constantly worry about what people are thinking of me, even though I know most people are probably wrapped up in worrying about themselves. And yet, that doesn’t stop the negative thoughts from racing through my mind.
I knew being a parent would be exhausting, but I had no idea how much it would really affect me. I wondered, “Why is my sleep so bad since having kids?” It wasn’t until recently that I discovered a new reason for my exhaustion.
People say the darndest things when you talk about your struggles, don’t they? Here’s how to respond when people say “You Think That’s Hard?”
Becoming a mom brings changes which can trigger struggles with pregnancy and postpartum mental health. There are a variety of risk factors that can contribute to depression. I experienced depression for the first time during pregnancy, and it completely took me by surprise. Here are some risk factors that may contribute to depression during pregnancy and postpartum mental health.
I have done these things so long I rarely notice I’m doing them. The need to protect myself has been woven into my mind as a fact of life that comes with the territory of being a woman.
Depression feels like a mental cage.
It’s frustrating when my brain keeps me from doing things I know I can do. I feel like a cheetah trapped in a cage when I could be running up to 90mph if given the chance. But I am not free.
I never wanted to take medication for mental health. Asking for “help” for depression and anxiety was literally the last thing I wanted to do. But after exhausting all other options, it was my only choice.
“Reach out for help.” This is such a simple phrase. But putting those words into action feels anything but simple when you are in the throes of depression. I have struggled with depression and anxiety for years and I know that I should tell someone when I’m struggling and reach out for help. But there is a huge mental block that often prevents me from doing so. And it’s not for the reasons that you might think.
I believed God could heal my depression and prayed that He would. What I learned is our prayers aren’t always answered the way we want them to be, but God still is aware of us and will give us help and strength.
These mental health memes were created to help remove that stigma of anxiety, depression, and other mental illness. Sharing these mental health memes can make a difference. These memes highlight some of the main messages I hope the world can learn and accept.
